B.A. in Communication Arts

Mission

The Mission of the Communication Arts Program is to generate, through a liberal arts education, communicators with extensive cultural, artistic, and technical, proficiency and versatility, so as to enable them to compete in the local, global, and regional media market, as well as in graduate schools.

Educational Objectives

The purpose of the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts is to:

Give our students the knowledge, and proficiency, that makes them qualified for a rapidly growing variety of jobs such as script writing, editing, directing, producing, reporting, acting, casting, dubbing, documentary film making, etc…
Train students who are interested in pursuing a teaching career in drama, and audio visual arts, at the high school level in Lebanon.
Prepare individuals with a well rounded education who can contribute to the ongoing development of the media, and cultural industries, in the Region.
Provide the students with a research background that enables them to continue their education.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates in the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts will be able to:

Develop a critical appreciation of the audio and visual arts, and will be able to express this in writing.
Demonstrate a balanced grasp of the theoretical, and practical, aspects of the field.
Understand the ethical, legal, and social, issues related to media.
Display a firm grasp of the research methods, leading them to the production of videos, films, articles, plays, radio/TV programs, or research papers.
Demonstrate the ability to operate the state of the art equipment in the studio, theatre, and the newsroom.
Provide evidence of great managerial competence, in any communication arts based environment.
Perform effectively in any production team, and to function as leaders, whenever the need arises.
Engage in creative production responsibilities, and/or creative scholarly research.

The explosion of mass communications systems, and fast-paced technological advances, serve as a backdrop for LAU’s Communication Arts Program. The University is a trailblazer in the teaching of mass communication and drama. Its’ curriculum, and facilities, are geared to staying abreast of all developments in those fields.

The Program strikes a balance between the carefully crafted theoretical and practical courses in the three emphasis areas: Journalism, Radio/TV/Film and Theater. The Program offers the proper blending of intellectual, cultural, and technical, components needed to create well-rounded dramatists, reporters, broadcasters, and movie makers.

Students learn to write, edit, layout, and design publications in computer equipped journalism newsrooms. Radio and TV studios provide cutting-edge computer animation capabilities, and three first-class Theaters offer various dramatic experiences. Seniors are required to undergo Internships, in their respective emphasis areas, before graduating.

Students majoring in Communication Arts must complete, besides the General University Requirements, 42 credits of the Major courses, which are split into the Core and Emphasis Requirements, as follows:

RADIO/TV/FILM

Core Requirements

Number	Course
COM210	Communication Media and Society
COM222	Introduction to Radio/TV/Film
COM225	The Art of Film
COM242	Introduction to the Art of Theater
COM329	Media Law and Ethics
COM329	Media Research Methods
COM499	Internship

Emphasis Requirements

Number	Course	Cr
COM235	Studio TV Production
COM236	Radio Production
COM324	History & Theory of Film
COM326	Script Writing
COM335	Advanced TV Production
COM342	Play Production I
COM428	Film Making
COM486	Topics in Media Studies

Suggested Electives

The same list, in addition to the following:

Number	Course	Cr
COM368	Radio/TV/Film Workshop
COM241	Introduction to Acting
COM213	Public Relations
COM238	Drama Workshop
COM332	Editing
COM251	Interpersonal Communication
PHO212	Photography II
WOS412	Representation of Women in the Arts & Media
COM 255	Current Affairs in Lebanese Media

JOURNALISM

Core Requirements

The same list, in addition to the following:

Number	Course	Cr
COM210	Communication Media and Society
COM329	Media Law & Ethics
COM222	Introduction to Radio/TV/Film
COM225	The Art of Film
COM242	Introduction to the Art of Theater
COM451	Media Research Methods
COM499	Internship

Emphasis Requirements

The same list, in addition to the following:

Number	Course	Cr
COM218	Arabic News Writing & Reporting
COM214	News Writing & Reporting
COM221	Arab and International Media
COM325	Feature & Magazine Writing
COM327	Journalism Workshop I
COM422	Journalism Workshop II
COM361	Broadcast Journalism
COM485	Topics in Current Affairs

Suggested Electives

Same list in addition to following:

Number	Course	Cr
COM368	Radio/TV/Film Workshop
COM241	Introduction to Acting
PHO212	Photography II
COM238	Drama Workshop
COM332	Editing
COM213	Public Relations
COM251	Interpersonal Communication
WOS412	Representation of Women in the Arts & Media
COM255	Current Affairs in Lebanese Media

THEATRE

Core Requirements

Number	Course	Cr
COM210	Communication, Media and Society
COM329	Media Law and Ethics
COM222	Introduction to Radio/TV/Film
COM225	The Art of Film
COM242	Introduction to the Art of Theater
COM451	Media Research Methods
COM499	Internship

Emphasis Requirements

Number	Course	Cr
COM241	Introduction to Acting
COM244	Introduction to Technical Stagecraft
COM247	Theater in Performance
COM326	Script Writing
COM342	Play Production I
COM487	Topics in Drama & Theatre
COM442	Play Production II
COM343	Advanced Acting

Suggested Electivess

Same list in addition to following:

Number	Course	Cr
COM368	Radio/TV/Film Workshop
PHO212	Photography II
COM213	Public Relations
COM238	Drama Workshop
COM251	Interpersonal Communication
COM332	Editing
WOS412	Representations of Women in the Arts & Media
COM255	Current Affairs in Lebanese Media